One of my avocations in life has always been that of a hack folksinger/guitarist/songwriter. As such one of my greatest influences has been Leonard Cohen whom we lost last week at the age of 82. On my facebook page I posted a farewell to Leonard and quoted some verse that I found comforting and so borrowed it for Facebook. I thought I would paste it here as well.  Peace to all of us on this grief site and may we find comfort in our shared sadness.

Repose en paix, Leonard Cohen. Thank you for your wide shoulders so many poets and folk artists have stood upon over so many years. I borrow here, words of yours that I give to my late beloved, anticipating that moment in time when I will join her beyond the veil. Thanks to Marianne!

"It’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and for your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye my endless love, see you down the road"..... From Mel by Leonard Cohen.

Michael, I lost  my Nancy April 29th, 2015.  I was holding her in my arms. It was 9:10am and her aide and me were trying to get her in her wheelchair (she had a stroke) when she just went limp. I will never forget that moment on that morning when reality slammed me to the ground. Then the EMT's asked me "There is no heartbeat, do you want us to resuscitate?" I still recall experiencing complete distortion of realty. My voice seemed to lower in pitch as I uttered the word...."No" I literally fell to the floor as my legs buckled. That was 17 and a half months ago. Sometimes I'm sure I hear her  voice or her footsteps on the floor, but no...another cruel illusion and now today, the same illusion continues to play out and the pain grows. It never stops. I pray for the day when I can see her again. I live for nothing else. I pray for you and the peace you seek. May God bring us peace..."the peace that passeth all understanding", I believe that one day we will see our beloved ones again.  That is my only consolation as I wake up each morning and go to bed each night. May it be yours as well.

Hi Michael.....I lost my husband of 27 years in oct too. it was sudden unexpected and so very tragic. I am struggling to live day to day. I cry all the time and fall apart so much its hard to count. I thought me and my husband could get through anything but I was wrong. now I live in agony everyday. just not wanting to do or go anywhere. I do have 2 fantastic kids both young adults and they struggle too. I feel like I let them down because I can hardly function let alone support them in their grief. looks like all of us are just struggling to survive and hoping not to..

A psychiatrist had me on so much Xanax the first 4 months that I wasn't even counting how many.  I think that's how managed to take care of what I had to and load up and move.  For over a year, I didn't drink at all.  I finally got off Xanax a year ago in January and started drinking too much beer.  I have lost 30 pounds, gained 40, and lost 30 over the past 18 months.  I'm healthy and feel I'm throwing that away by being so inactive.  It's not by choice.  This has been a rollercoaster ride through hell and I'm trapped most of the time.

Hey Michael, as much as I try to hide my pain I just can't. It gets to the point at times where it feels like I'm gonna have a breakdown because I can't handle it. It truly helps to talk with other people who truly understand this pain. take care my friend.